FG seeks $1bn to fight Boko Haram
By Abdullahi M. Gulloma and Joe Egbodo, Abuja
A former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), yesterday expressed worry that it is taking too long for the country under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan to win the war on terror.
Danjuma, who spoke during the inauguration of the Victim Support Fund Committee by President Jonathan at the State House in Abuja, said the insurgents appear to be having a upper hand because they freely strike, hold positions and displace people at will.
“This war must be brought to an end,” the former minister said. “We must win this war immediately. It is taking too long. I called it civil war when it began, people said it’s insurgency.
“The insurgents appear to be having an upper hand at this very moment. They pick and choose where to strike. They are even holding positions and displacing us. We must win this war, Mr. President. We must do so immediately.”
In his remarks before the inauguration of the committee, Jonathan said his government would ensure that terrorists have no hiding place in the country and assured that his administration would win the war against Boko Haram.
He said: “It is very necessary for us to refresh our memory before we proceed. Nigeria has not always been like this. In the past, it is true, we had communal and sectarian clashes.
“There is no human society that has been insulated from conflicts. But as a people created by God, we have managed to live within the realities of our challenges and have worked hard to strengthen the bond of our togetherness.
“Even when we quarrel, we very quickly make up and largely lived peacefully together. At no time did we employ terrorism to settle our differences. But our innocence was defiled on December 25, 2009, when a 23-year-old Nigerian attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, on his way from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, United States.
“Although his plan failed and the lives of 289 passengers were saved, it was one incident that finally confirmed that a few Nigerians had finally embraced terrorism as a way of life. Now we could no longer deny that terror has arrived our country, with its ugly claws deployed!
“The year 2009 appears to be a tragic turning point. Boko Haram, an assemblage of heartless individuals, took it upon itself to bring evil upon our country. They have, in their mission, turned women to widows and reduced children to orphans.
“Let me reiterate clearly that evil will never prevail over good. The blood that is being wasted every day by those who take advantage of the vulnerability of our people to spread extremist doctrines and recruit them for murderous errands are enemies of humanity.
“We will never waste any effort in bringing the individuals responsible for crimes against humanity to justice.”
The president also called on Nigerians to stand together in support of security agencies against terrorism, saying, “They are working night and day under difficult circumstances.”
He said the Victim Support Fund Committee was part of the ongoing efforts by the federal government to provide a comprehensive solution to the menace.
“This government is determined to resolve this crisis,” Jonathan said.
The committee, headed by Danjuma, is saddled with the responsibility of raising about N30 billion for the victims of Boko Haram attacks; the federal government is expected to contribute N10 billion to the fund over time, state governments are also expected to jointly contribute N10 billion, while the private sector and other concerned stakeholders would be involved in the establishment of the fund.
In a related development, President Jonathan has sought the approval of the House of Representatives to borrow up to $1 billion to contain the country’s lingering security challenges, occasioned by activities of Boko Haram.
Jonathan reiterated in the letter titled, “Tackling Ongoing Security Challenges: Need for Urgent Action” that members were already cognizant of the security challenges as typified by the Boko Haram terrorists.
“This is an issue we have discussed at various times,” he added.
The president, in the letter addressed to the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, which he read at the the plenary yesterday, said: “I would like to bring to your attention the urgent need to upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our armed forces and security services to enable them more forcefully confront this serious threat.
“For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1 billion, including government to government arrangements for this upgrade.”
